Starfleet Magic (Movie): The Switch Before Hearths Warming/Christmas

ACT SIXTEEN

There was no way around it, Swift Star had seen everything, and so the fighters had to come clean.

“You mean… you’re not Commander Lightning Dawn?” Swift asked.

Lightning shook his head. “I’m from the Human World; we all are.”

The others all nodded regretfully.

“We know this must be hard believe,” said Starla. She said nothing else as Swift felt dizzy. “When… How… Why did all this happen?”

“Well, you see…” Pinkie said, and she drew in a huge breath and explain in one of incredibly fast-talks. “It all started when we wanted to move the gateway in our world to a safer place, so we took the magic away, but then something went wrong as the gate went nutsy-cuckoo, and in big flash of light, WHOA…!!! We switched places with all your friends, so now we’re here, and they’re back there, and the magic back there is gone, we all have to keep it cool until the magic is restored and we can all get back home again.”

Swift stood with his mouth handing open and raised his finger to say something, but he couldn’t think of a word to say as this was so much to absorb.

“Look, here’s the thing.” said Lightning. “What you saw needs to be kept secret. If other people find out the truth about us, it’ll be catastrophic, especially if the bad guys learn about this.”

Realizing the seriousness of all this, Swift agreed, “You don’t have to tell me twice. I won’t tell a soul… uh… Commander…”

A moment of silence followed. “I think we’ve had enough for one morning.” said Starla.

Lightning agreed, and all the gear in the fields were magically stowed and sent back on their way from whence they came.

“We should all get home now.” suggested Lightning “We still have other things to do.”

Swift still found it amazing how everyone was playing their roles so well, but he didn’t dare ask why or how, not wanting to risk being heard as everyone headed back to town.

*Mykan’s POV*

Rarity got back to her home and shop. Twilight was still asleep.

Rarity met up with me, Sci-Twi, and Spike, but I noted her worried expression. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Um… well… I…” she stammered and stuttered, and then she whispered into my ear, and I nearly shouted in shocked.

“Well, isn’t that just wonderful.” I grumbled.

“We didn’t mean to. He just came in out of nowhere.” Rarity explained.

“Well, at least Swift has agreed to keep quiet about it.” said Sci-Twi.

“But what if more discover the secret?” worried Spike.

The very thought of the secret being further leaked made me feel like choking with worry. I promised their majesties to keep things in check, and now it was becoming even harder.

Sci-Twi came up to me and put her hand on my shoulder. “Try not to get worked up about it. We’ll do all we can to try and keep it low.”

I wanted to believe her, but it was so hard.

“I guess all we can hope for now is there won’t be any other attacks.” said Spike.

“I hope that myself.” said Rarity “Even with the training we did this morning, I doubt we’ve improved our powers and strengths all that much.”

Sci-Twi and Spike shook their heads, which made Rarity sigh.

Just then, little Twilight woke up. “Mommy…” she cooed softly.

Rarity put on her motherly act as she loomed over the crib, the rest of us quietly tiptoed out. I had to get to work anyway.

*POV pause*

Keeping up her act, Rarity scooped the child up into her arms.

“Is Daddy home?” Twilight asked.

Rarity shook her head, “Not yet.”

This made the child sad. “I miss Daddy.”

Rarity hugged the little one and felt her father, and her real mother missed her too, but she didn’t say anything.

She wasn’t the only fake parent feeling this way…

Far away in the New Crystal Empire, Celesto, Celestia and the children were visiting the Crystal Royals to assist in the Holiday Charities… handing out gift baskets and giving sizable donations to feed the poor and homeless, and things like that.

While the grown ups were working, the children were having fun in the snow with Flurry Heart.

“Look, Cousin… you can make a snow angel.” said Castor.

“Try it, you’ll like it.” added Lelani.

“Yippee!” Flurry cried as she leapt face-down in the snow instead of face-up, and yet she made a lovely angel anyway, and the snow tasted yummy. “Delicious.”

Castor and Lelani laughed.

As the children continued to play, Cadance and Celestia gazed at them from afar, and seeing them all playing so lovingly made them happy and sad at the same time.

No matter how much these kids represented their own children, they could never replace them.

Cadance gave a small sniffle.

“Are you alright?” asked Celestia.

“I’m fine… it’s just a little cold out here.”

Celestia wasn’t fooled, “I’m sure it is.” She handed her a hanky, and then took one herself, but they both did their best not to show their tears, especially in public.

The husbands didn’t have to see their wives’ faces to know what they were thinking as they saw watch the children.

“They’re homesick.” said Shining Armor.

Celesto agreed, “I wish we were home too. This world is magical and wonderous, but we just don’t belong here… Not like this.”

“I know what you mean, I’ve never done this much work in my entire life. Next to all this, College was a breeze.”

Celesto still felt beat from all the tons and tons of work he and Celestia had done since the first day, and there was still so much more to be done, and other things to worry about, especially if there was another attack!

Celesto clenched his fists nervously, “I just hope nothing else goes wrong that can jeopardize us.”

Dyno and Myte returned to their mine where they were loading loads of newly unearthed jewels into carts.

“Come on, let’s get these out of here.” said Dyno.

Myte nodded, and he and his brother worked hard pushing the huge, hulking, loads outside.

“Dyno…” Myte said.

“Si?”

His brother hesitated, “¡No importa! *Never mind*”

Dyno was not convinced, “Myte… Yo siento lo mismo. *I feel the same. * I miss home too.”

The sad, homesick brothers, sadly got back to work.

Rainbow and Pinkie resumed her duties, helping the pegasi to bring in more clouds to make it snow in certain areas all over the planet.

“This is so much fun.” chirped Pinkie, “Maybe we should try this in our world.”

“That is… if we ever get home.” said Rainbow. She wasn’t kidding, she was really starting to feel homesick, and so was Pinkie.

From up high where they were, they could see so much below, until the clouds covered everything.

“I don’t know how much longer I can take this.” said Pinkie. “I mean, I’m doing good keeping my cover, but it’s getting so much harder to keep this secret.”

“Pinkie!” Rainbow said sternly, “You know how important it is, and this has to be one of those few times you don’t let up.”

Pinkie shrugged, but she still didn’t know how much longer she could hold out.

Fluttershy had finished her own duties, and all the animals that were supposed be hibernating were safely tucked in, burrowed in the ground, all toasty, warm, and snoozing away.

She thought they were so adorable, and yet she was very sad and worried. Like the others, she, too, missed home, especially since she and Rhymey were supposed to be getting married in two more days!

They couldn’t get married in this world, or even let people know who they really were.

“All our planning will go up in flames,
And we’re still stuck here playing games,

Pretending to be beings we are not,
And missing our real homes and familiar lot.

Oh, me, oh, my…
I think I’m going to cry!”

…And she did… she fell to her knees and began sobbing softly into her hands.

Rhymey was outside the cottage, still practicing his sword skills in the yard, while Angel was inside keeping Button Fly company.

“You, and me,
One, two, three.” the toddler cooed as Angel hopped and leapt over him.

Suddenly, Rhymey was heard giving a small shout from outside, forcing Angel to hop over to the window…

Rhymey had slipped in the snow after bungling a move, and he had nearly struck himself with his own sword, even if it was just a fake one, and could do no damage.

Reason being, just like Fluttershy, he, too, was feeling homesick, and worried that things were only going to horribly wrong-- not just for himself and Fluttershy, but everyone, including the counterparts.

That’s when Fluttershy came walking up to the house, still wiping tears from her eyes, and she saw him struggling onto his feet.

She ran up to him,

“Rhymey, I say…
Are you okay?”

“Yes, Yes…
I guess.” Rhymey cried, but the sadness in his voice was easily heard.

The couple embraced and had a small cry, much to Angel’s confusion.

Applejack and Buddy returned to the farm just in time for breakfast with their respective families.

“Good luck.” they both whispered to each other.

Applejack was seated at the table with the family, which still sent shivers up her spine, especially being near Pear Butter and Bright Mac, but no Granny Smith.

“Ain’t you going eat?” Bright Mac asked.

“Oh, sorry. I guess I over trained.” Applejack said, and she began to eat up. The pancakes tasted just like her Granny Smith’s cooking from back home.

“What were you training for so early?” asked Applebloom.

“Oh, um… just getting some exercise. You never know when more danger’s going to come rushing in, especially a few days before Christmas.”

The entire family looked confused.

“What did you say?” asked Pear.

Applejack suddenly realized her mistake. “Uh… Hearths Warming! I meant “Hearths Warming.” Then she thought to herself, “Silly…! Got to remember, it’s their holiday, not mine.”

Applebloom leaned towards Big Mac “I could’a sworn she just said “Christmas.”

“Eeyup, that’s what I heard.”

The family was growing more, and more suspicious of Applejack’s strange behavior…

…But not nearly so as Buddy’s family.

“So, how come I couldn’t come training with you this morning?” asked DD.

“Oh, uh… well…” Buddy had to come up with an excuse fast. “It was special training that only the gang and I could do. Remember, you’re still a cadet.”

DD wasn’t so sure he was being fully honest.

Tree Hugger was over at the sink, but instead of scrubbing the dishes, her eyes were shut, and she was so still and silent you’d think she was a statue.

“Mommy!” Seedling giggled from her highchair.

Tree Hugger didn’t even move, but she was heard humming very softly in a trance-like state,

“Tree Hugger…?” said Buddy, but he was starting to have a sick feeling from her humming like that, especially when her eyes snapped open, and she gasped softly. Then she looked him right in the eyes from over at the sink.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Buddy asked nervously.

Her eyes were like daggers piercing through his soul, and suddenly, Tree Hugger’s eyes went wide with shock, and she just fainted.

“Tree Hugger!” cried DD.

Seedling began to cry.

Buddy didn’t know which to help first, until DD comforted the toddler. So, he scooped up Tree Hugger and brought her to the living room and laid her down on the sofa.

“Mommy! Mommy!” cried Seedling.

“Shh… shh… Mommy’s just fine, honey.” DD said while stroking her little head.

Buddy felt Tree Hugger’s head, she had no fever, and she was still breathing very slowly.

“Okay! Don’t panic. Don’t panic!” he murmured, and then, remembering how she was just like his Tree Hugger back home, he knew one way that snapped her out of it whenever she fell like this, though he was hesitant to do it…!

He slowly leaned forward, gently pressing his lips against her forehead, almost like a Prince kissing his Princess to wake her up.

Tree Hugger awoke from her trance due to the warm feeling and the softness, but as she looked up at Buddy, she gasped, making him back away from her.

Tree Hugger got up swiftly, but carefully in her pregnant condition, but her eyes never left Buddy’s. “No way!” she cried in disbelief. “The waves don’t lie to me. They aren’t the same!”

Buddy gulped hard feeling her knew what she was going to say next, and just as DD came into the room to check on them after calming Seedling down in the kitchen. “What’s going on here?”

Tree Hugger pointed at Buddy and stammered, “So not… Totally wrong… Mass lie…”

“Wait! What?!” cried DD, and Tree Hugger finally managed to speak in proper English, “…He’s not Bud.”

All was silent and creepy, as DD slowly looked at Buddy, and the way he looked so nervous, sweating, and quaveringly softly-- DD remembered her Starfleet training to read body-language when someone was lying or hiding something.

Overcome with stress, shock, and a little rage, she angrily cast him in a magical energy field. “Who are you?! Tell me now!”

“Put me down!” Buddy wailed.

“Where is Buddy Rose!” DD demanded.

Buddy concentrated hard and broke her magical grip on him, for he was still stronger than she was.

DD was about to rush over and pound him to bits, “Wait!” cried Buddy. “Listen to me, both of you… I’m not who you think I am, but I’m on your side.”

The ladies decided to hear him out.

As for Artie, he was closing the art gallery now that the holidays were just around the corner, but Artie couldn’t help but walk down all the deserted halls and gaze at all the incredible paintings and sculptures and other fine pieces of art.

“Gee… maybe this is why I’m so gifted.” he joked to himself.

What fascinated him the most were all the different landscapes painted from intergalactic worlds General Artie had seen or were just inspired out of thin air to him. Some of the landscapes greatly resembled that of places on Earth… all the meadows, lakeshores, tropical scenes, and even metropolis cities.

“Oh, boy…” Artie sighed softly as he felt his homesickness catching up to him.

Then he came to General Artie’s private backroom, with a big sigh on the door that read “PRIVATE: NO ENTRY!”

Then again, Artie did have the key, and he chuckled, “We’re practically the same. I should be allowed in.”

So, he unlocked the door, and let himself inside, and what he saw nearly froze him with astoundment. The walls were loaded with many paintings of Sunset-- not his Sunset of course.

She looked so beautiful in each one of them…

-Sitting on a large clam shell…

-Wearing a white dress and holding a parasol at a French Café…

-Even as a mer-pony…

As Artie continued to gaze at the paintings, he began to hallucinate, seeing all the heads replaced with the images of the human images of his own beloved Sunset back home.

He could even swear one of them was calling to him in a soft voice. “Come home to me.”

Artie had to get out, and he rushed through the door slamming it, making an echo through the corridors.

Artie, with his back against the door and a hand over his face, softly slid to the floor. He clenched his other fist and shut his eyes tightly trying to fight the sadness and pain striking him, and even more so with the life he was living now.

He thought of Sunset-- the one he was living with-- and little Sun Stream.

“I can’t do this anymore.” he said to himself. “I can’t just keep lying like this. They’re not my family, and they should know the truth.”

The promise of not telling the secret argued with his conscience. “I know I swore I wouldn’t tell, but what’s worse-- Telling or Not? At least Sunset deserves to know.”

He got up and walked round the corner to the exit, only to run into none other than…

“…Sunset?”

He had forgotten she was with him too to close the gallery and take a last look around, and she brought the baby with her.

She gawked at him with extreme shock in her eyes.

“…Did you just hear me…?”

Still gawking at him, not even blinking her eyes, Sunset asked softly, and somewhat in horror, “…You’re… not… my husband?!”

Artie shook his head, “I’m from the Human World.”

Sunset fainted with a loud thud on the ground. All Sun Stream did was look down at her and go, “Boom.” Thank goodness she was too young to understand the incredible amounts of shock that were occurring.

Meanwhile, Cheerilee was having her usual Last Day of School Holiday Party. She, Mykan, and all the students were having a good day, drawing pictures, playing fun holiday games, partaking in snacks and drinks, and there were a few songs and dances to go with it.

*POV Resume*

I had invited Sci-Twi and Spike to come with me so they could visit an elementary school and see what it was like, and to give them something fun to do.

…Also, I gave them aliases so as not to use their correct names.

Sci-Twi was nicknamed “Cocoa Cream”, because her brown mane along with her beige coat made her look like a creamy hot cocoa.

And Spike, he was nicknamed “Sparky” to relate to how he used to be a dog, but we didn’t tell anyone that.

“How did you meet each other?” Cheerlie asked.

“Oh, uh…” I stammered and then came up with a quick story, “You see, Cocoa is interested in being a teacher herself. I… met her while studying at the library a week ago, and thought I’d invite her here to see what school is like… though I’m sure she already knew that.”

Sci-Twi, or “Cocoa” went along with it. “Yes, that’s right. I’ve… always had a fascination with children.”

Cheerilee didn’t seem to mind, “Well, any friend of Mykan’s is a friend of ours…” she paused and looked at Cocoa rather deeply, “Though, I must say… you seem rather familiar to me.”

Cocoa laughed nervously, and then changed the subject, “You have a very lovely school here.”

I sighed in relief that the secret was still safe.

Then Spike, or rather “Sparky” was pigging out on all the snacks and treats the children and Cheerilee had brought.

“So good!” he cried with his mouth full.

The students were a little appalled and grossed out, while others were confused.

“You’d think no one had ever cookies and cupcakes before.” they said to each other.

“Mmm… Oh! Are you kidding me?” said Sparky “Back where I come from, I can’t eat stuff like this.”

Now the students were shocked.

“You never eat treats like this?”

“Well, what do you eat?”

“Silly, he’s a dragon. They eat mostly rocks, and shiny stones.”

Sparky was grossed out to hear that, “Rocks, stones… Ugh’ll!”

The kids had never heard of a dragon that didn’t like stones. Sparky was careful not to mention what he really was like.

One little filly took a good long look at him.

“Yes…?” he asked.

“I was just thinking, you look like a dragon we all knew named “Spike” he used to look like you, only different.”

Sparky was starting to feel nervous, “Uh… “Spike” you say. Nah, never heard of him. Nope. Not me.”

Still, it was a wonderful party, and yet all the while I couldn’t help but have a shivering feeling that something bad was happening to the others while I wasn’t watching.